Butterfly by Sylvester Stephens Read Free Book Online Page A

visiting your father.”
    â€œOh my God! Of course I want to see my dad! I can’t believe this!”
    â€œThen we’ll call them tomorrow and arrange a meeting with you and this Dr. Forrester.”
    â€œThank you so much, Ma. I love you soooooo much!”
    I kissed Ma on the cheek and gave her a big hug. Ma tried to playfully push me away, but I continued to kiss her all over her face. “Get back, girl; you gon’ give me the heebie-jeebies!”
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    My first meeting with Dr. Forrester was just between him, Ma and me. He wanted to get a feel for me before he introduced me to his wife. He was a tall, handsome man. He had dark smooth skin, a clean-shaven face with a clean-shaven head to match. He wore a nice suit that fit him very well. Ma and I peeked through the curtain as he stepped out of his car.
    â€œWell, he’s a handsome something, isn’t he?”
    â€œYes, ma’am!” I said with enthusiasm.
    â€œMy, oh my!”
    â€œMa?”
    â€œLook at us in here salivating. I’m too old and you’re too young.”
    â€œMa, he’s married,” I joked.
    Knock! Knock! Knock!
    â€œGo answer the door, child.”
    â€œOh, okay!” I looked back at Ma one last time for moral support and then I opened the door. “Hi, Dr. Forrester, I’m Shante.”
    â€œHow are you, young lady?” Dr. Forrester shook my hand and then shook Ma’s hand. “And how are you, ma’am?”
    â€œI’m fine, son,” Ma said. “Have a seat, please.”
    We sat in the living room and Dr. Forrester told me the story of being my father’s cellmate. He told me how much my father loved and adored me and that he made a promise to my dad to find me when he was released from prison.
    Ma was understandably concerned about Dr. Forrester’s prison record, but he explained that he was unrightfully accused and was awaiting the dismissal of the charges held against him through an evidentiary hearing. He was totally open and honest with her and that made her believe him. At the end of the conversation, Dr. Forrester presented the question of visiting my father.
    â€œShante, your father would give anything to see you.”
    â€œI want to see him, too.”
    â€œWe have arranged for me to take you to see him this Sunday, if you would like to go.”
    â€œOh my God! Are you serious?”
    â€œYes, if you want to go.”
    â€œI can’t wait!”
    â€œWell, if it’s okay with Mrs. Powell, I’ll pick you up Sunday afternoon.”
    â€œMa?”
    â€œOf course, baby.”
    â€œI guess I’ll be seeing you Sunday, Dr. Forrester,” I said with a huge grin on my face.
    â€œYou go on and do your homework and I’ll walk the doctor to the door, child.”
    I knew that meant that she wanted to talk privately with Dr. Forrester, so I got the hell out of there immediately.
    â€œI thank you for stopping by, Doctor, but this child means an awful lot to me. I need to know that she’s not going to be hurt in all of this. She’s been through so much in her short lifetime.”
    â€œI promise you, ma’am. Her father wants nothing but the best for her.”
    â€œThen I’ll take your word for it.”
    â€œHave a good day, ma’am.”
    â€œYou too, son.”
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    I was nervous when we arrived at the prison. It was the first time I had seen my dad in almost ten years. When I first laid eyes on him, he looked different from what I remembered. His hair was a lot longer. He wore his hair bald when he was on the outside, but in prison, it was long and in a thick ponytail. He was also much more muscular, with tats on his neck and hands. He had a couple of scars from what I assumed to be prison battles. All that did not matter to me. I was just so happy to see him, I wanted to cry. I wanted to reach out and hug